COP Project, it Continues...

[bmwman91]

OK, the first thread was a) becoming a huge monster, and b) I was postwhoring it up.  So, I will PW my own thread up now.

All my progress is updated work-daily (like, after a day of working on the project, I update).  Hopefully it will be done tomorrow (Sunday 6/18).  Page 2 has today's progress, and page 1 is last Thursday's I think.  Anyway, enjoy, it is the COP article.

http://www.e30tuner.com/projects/

[bmwman91]

Here's the idea for the bracket.  Nice & simple.

[zerofreez]

So.... does it work

[2002maniac]

picture whore!

That rough surface finish looks cool but it will attract dirt and oil.  I would have painted the whole cover black before finishing and then done a quick clearcoat.

I need a mill in my garage.  I hate waiting till monday :p

[nickmpower]

are you planing on upgrading the coils to make it worth while?

[tim_s]

ncie! i like the idea of the COP conversion!

[bmwman91]

If this works, I will look into some of BavAuto's upgraded ignition coils, or something of thelike.  For $25 each, you cannot really argue.  If anyone has suggestions on which ones to use, I am listening, but I am not an MSD fan.

Yeah, I know, the cover was a spur of the moment thing while I was machining down the spark plug bosses.  I will figure something out to do about it.

[D. Clay]

I bought 4 Bremi coils for my M42. They came with the extensions. I thought they were the wrong part and called the supplier. They told me to just pull the extensions off and use them. I did have to turn the plugs on the end of the wiring harness upside down to get them to fit into the coils. I didn't think of reversing the clips like you did. I've had the Bremi's for a couple years w/no problems.

[bmwman91]

Well, I made the bracket today and fit everything in the car...and it ran fine.  I am displeased with the bracket though as it is a PITA to install with the coils, and I do not like how the tight spacing causes the connector wires to be bent at an extreme angle.

So, I need to find the coil packs with the smallest possible bodies that will attach with the factory connectors.  I WISH there was a way to do this so that the connectors faced the fender instead of the firewall, like they do on any other modern COP setup.

The 2-pronger coild that D. Clay has looked at might be OK.  The bodies look smaller than the M42/S50 ones.  Those are far too big, and I will not drive around with the COP setup with them; I want ones that will let my connectors last and not look like when installed.  The M42 valve cover is REALLY not designed to have a COP setup, that is my conclusion anyway.

I am tired as hell and sore, I will deal with all the pictures tomorrow evening after work.

[zerofreez]

With the round coils and 122mm boots I should be set then dont you think?

[bmwman91]

Well, the boots take care of needing to machine down the plug bosses on the valve cover.

The round ones...they will help only if their diameter is less than the width of the original coils (width in the narrower direction, from connector to the opposite side with the little ledge thingy).  If it saves you 5mm in that dimension, you should be good to go.

[bmwman91]

Can someone get me a dimension here?  See attached.

[zerofreez]

When my boots come in I'll be buying the coils so I can check then.

[D. Clay]

I got 4 of these from Terry Sayther here in town to experiment with. They're good but used.
I was thinking they could be turned slightly clockwise when installed.  The wires would possibly clear without a drastic bend. What looks black in the photos at the 2.125" width is a rubber like layer. The tabs or bumps are located where the halves of the field or whatever it is come together. The other measurement is 2".
I haven't had time to try them yet as it was dark when I got home and my shop is under the large pecan tree in the driveway. Also don't know if the extension is long enough. More later. Maybe someone has info on this.

[D. Clay]

Pics of coils. These are from 99-2002 328i. The extension may work but it looks like the coils will need a hold down bracket to hold them down to connect with the plug - sort of like they are spring loaded. Coils and extensions are $45 from FAP99.com.